Dr. Kiana Aran is Associate Professor of Bioengineering and Medicine at the University of California San Diego, Director of the Center for Technologies for Healthy Aging. She is known for pioneering technologies at the convergence of semiconductors, and biotechnology. Her research focuses on developing semiconductor-enabled bioelectronic platforms capable of generating real-time, high-throughput, and high-quality biological data at scale. These technologies provide the foundational datasets needed to train next-generation AI systems for applications in disease diagnostics, biomanufacturing, precision medicine, and biosecurity.

An internationally recognized inventor, entrepreneur, and scientific leader, Dr. Aran has founded multiple biotechnology companies and successfully translated laboratory innovations into commercial products. Her contributions have been recognized globally, including receiving the global inaugural Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature, recognizing women driving the most impactful technological innovations. She is also the recipient of the Nature Research Award for Inspiring Women in Science, a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), a member of the National Academies' New Voices program, recipient of the Rutgers Engineering Medal of Excellence, the Society of Engineers Engineer of the Year Award in San Diego and Top US female founders by Inc. magazine. Her research has attracted support from the NIH, NSF, DARPA, NASA, the Gates Foundation, and industry partners. Through her leadership in science, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization, Dr. Aran is advancing a future where semiconductors serve not only as the foundation of computing, but also as a critical engine for generating the biological data that powers the next generation of artificial intelligence.